Realtor receives John E. Wolf Community Service Award

Published 3:12 pm, Friday, January 10, 2014

Each year, the Houston Association of Realtors honors a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the community, primarily outside the scope of the real estate industry.

Criteria for the award, which is named after 1938-39 HAR President John E. Wolf, include leadership and service in charitable organizations, service organizations and special service organizations. For 2013, Mike Mahlstedt, a top producer with Heritage Texas Properties and an incoming 2014 member of the HAR board of directors, was selected as most deserving to be so honored.

Charitable giving is a part of Mahlstedt's business model. Mahlstedt, a HAR Top 20 Realtors Under 40, makes a donation to his client's charity of choice after closing each real estate transaction. But Mahlstedt's commitment to community service extends way beyond that thoughtful gesture.

Mahlstedt combines this philanthropy with his passion for athletic competition, specifically Ironman events. In the 2010 Lake Placid Ironman, Mahlstedt finished in the top 15 percent, raising nearly $15,000 for COCI.

In May 2011, he guided a blind triathlete in the Texas Woodlands Triathlon through the competition and raised more than $25,000 for COCI and the C-Different Foundation. And in 2013, Mahlstedt raised $101,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Man of the Year" campaign.

"I was shocked when (the HAR board) announced my name as the winner," Mahlstedt said. "I really don't consider myself that gives back more than others do."

"I was humbled to be recognized with over 20,000 Realtors that do great things," Mahlstedt said. "It is always nice to be recognized by your peers."

Mahlstedt has a very simple and straightforward philosophy when it comes to charitable giving. "I think it is very important to give back," he said. "It is very cliché, but when you do good things, you will get so much more in return. My parents have been incredibly influential in instilling the importance to give back, ever since I was a kid. When you grow up seeing that level of giving, it is easy to know what you should do."

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